My Kids Are Awesome

Marty, who will turn six years old in 12-13 days, told me what he wants most as a present: a chess set! A CHESS SET! FOR HIS *SIXTH* BIRTHDAY! My kids are awesome. Did I mention Ellie is on an opera kick, too? She's sleeping to opera nightly, by her own request. Amazing kids.

Marty & the 300

Marty's been begging for a month to watch 300. Yesterday I finally gave in and told him he could watch it, just once, with me, we were going to skip parts, and he wasn't going to complain. So we watched enough for him to get the storyline without the gore and sex. After that he slew Persians all day.

At bathtime I asked "Do Spartans ever retreat?"

"NEVAAAARRRR!"

"Do Spartans ever surrender?"

"NEVAAAARRRR!"

"Are you a Spartan warrior?"

*pause* "No, I think I'd like to live."

So much for "with your shield or on it"! As a mother, I don't know whether to be ashamed or relieved!

Grief

Most of the time I'm okay, it's only when I watch her sleep that my chest grows tight, my throat aches, and my eyes burn with tears. I grieve for what should have been. She deserves so much more than this, the prison of her own body.

Precious Love

Ah, God, I'm crying. Ellie just made direct eye contact with me & said, with her whole heart in her voice, "I love you."

Cannon Family Christmas 2011

Great night with our beautiful family! It was so wonderful to see everybody, especially our out-of-staters. Marty ran himself crazy with his cousins, and Ellie enjoyed her family time. I'm so proud of how well she did! She really did enjoy herself, and so did we grown-ups.

Marty's Future Plans

Marty has his future all planned out: "I'll make sure I go to the same college as Ashlyn & then I'll marry her. Our relationship will last forever, & when we go to Heaven together I'll still love her!" You know, my Grammy & Poppy went to Kindergarten together...

My Son

My son gives me hope for the future of humanity. If he becomes the man whom he shows the promise of, there would never be a prouder mother, or a more lucky world.